The effect of surfactant structure on ribonuclease A–surfactant interactions

Abstract

The enzymic activity of ribonuclease A was measured in the presence of several surfactants at pH7.2. Cationic surfactants with trimethylammonium and pyridinium head groups do not deactivate or denature the enzyme, whereas n-dodecylamine hydrochloride, like the anionic surfactant sodium n-dodecyl sulphate, deactivates and denatures ribonuclease A.